After three years of breathlessly waiting alongside Evie Sage and her beloved Villain, Hannah Nicole Maehrer delivers a conclusion that transforms heartbreak into triumph while keeping readers laughing through their tears. Accomplice to the Villain, the third and final installment in the Assistant to the Villain series, doesn’t just meet the impossibly high expectations set by its predecessors—it soars beyond them with the grace of Fluffy the dragon and the emotional impact of a perfectly timed magical revelation.
A Series Worth Its Weight in Golden Crowns
The Assistant to the Villain series began as a TikTok sensation that captured hearts with its fresh take on the villain romance trope. What started with Assistant to the Villain (2023) and continued with Apprentice to the Villain (2024) reaches its satisfying crescendo in this final volume. Each book has built methodically upon the last, creating a world where administrative chaos meets magical mayhem, and where the greatest villains might just be the most heroic characters in the room.
Maehrer’s genius lies in her ability to subvert expectations while delivering exactly what readers crave. Where other fantasy romance series might stumble in their conclusions, Accomplice to the Villain maintains the delicate balance between humor and heartbreak that has made this series a phenomenon.
Plot That Hits Like Starlight Magic
Without spoiling the intricate web Maehrer has woven, Accomplice to the Villain finds Evie Sage grappling with a devastating role reversal. The prophecy that has haunted the series finally unfolds, revealing truths that shake the very foundation of everything Evie thought she knew about herself, Trystan, and their intertwined destinies. The stakes have never been higher, with kingdoms hanging in the balance and beloved characters facing impossible choices.
The pacing is masterful, alternating between moments of laugh-out-loud comedy and gut-wrenching emotional devastation. Maehrer understands that true love stories aren’t just about the romance—they’re about the friends who become family, the sacrifices that define character, and the courage to choose love even when fate seems determined to tear it away.
What sets this conclusion apart is how it honors every character arc established in the previous books. Clare’s journey from rebellious sister to someone who understands the weight of choices resonates particularly strongly. Arthur’s paternal love provides some of the book’s most tearjerking moments, while Kingsley continues to steal scenes with his perfectly misspelled signs (yes, even “HALP” makes a return).
Characters That Leap Off the Page
Evie Sage: The Heart of Everything
Evie’s character development reaches its peak in this final installment. Gone is the naive assistant who stumbled into the Villain’s employ; in her place stands a woman who understands that sometimes loving someone means accepting the darkest parts of yourself. Maehrer writes Evie’s internal struggle with the kind of authenticity that makes readers want to reach through the pages and offer comfort.
Her relationship with her family, particularly the complex dynamics with her mother Nura and brother Gideon, adds layers of emotional complexity that elevate this beyond simple fantasy romance. The way Evie navigates betrayal, forgiveness, and self-acceptance creates a character arc that feels both fantastical and deeply human.
Trystan Maverine: The Villain We All Deserve
Trystan’s evolution throughout the series culminates beautifully in this final book. His vulnerability, carefully hidden beneath layers of sardonic wit and apparent indifference, finally gets the exploration it deserves. The revelation about his parentage and the way it recontextualizes his entire relationship with Arthur provides some of the book’s most emotionally resonant moments.
Maehrer excels at writing Trystan’s internal conflict between the man he believes he’s meant to be and the person he actually is. His dimpled smiles and dry observations mask a depth of feeling that makes every emotional breakthrough feel earned.
Supporting Cast That Shines
The ensemble cast continues to be one of the series’ greatest strengths. Tatianna and Clare’s complicated relationship adds romantic tension beyond the main couple, while characters like Blade, Keeley, and even the delightfully dramatic Edwin provide both comic relief and genuine emotional weight when needed.
Special mention must go to Kingsley, whose signs remain perfectly imperfect and whose transformation provides one of the book’s most satisfying payoffs. The way Maehrer has developed what could have been a simple comic relief character into something meaningful demonstrates her skill as a storyteller.
Romance That Burns Slow and Hot
After two books of exquisite romantic tension, Accomplice to the Villain finally allows Evie and Trystan’s relationship to fully bloom. The slow burn that has tormented readers reaches its conclusion with scenes that are both swoon-worthy and emotionally satisfying. Maehrer doesn’t just give us the physical culmination of their relationship; she provides the emotional resolution that makes their love story feel complete.
The confession scenes are particularly well-crafted, with Evie’s declaration of love feeling both surprising and inevitable. The way Trystan responds—not with grand gestures but with quiet acceptance and fierce protectiveness—perfectly captures his character.
What makes their romance work is how it’s built on genuine friendship and mutual respect. They’ve seen each other at their worst and chosen to stay anyway, making their love feel authentic rather than simply destined.
World-Building That Enchants
Maehrer’s magical world reaches new heights in this conclusion. The prophecy that has lurked in the background of the previous books finally takes center stage, and the way it’s woven into the fabric of the story feels both surprising and inevitable. The magical system, with its starlight magic and destiny monsters, provides a fantastical backdrop that never overwhelms the character-driven narrative.
The political intrigue involving the various kingdoms adds complexity without becoming convoluted. The appearance of characters like Queen Brina and the revelation of long-held secrets about the royal families create a rich tapestry that supports rather than overshadows the main story.
Writing Style That Sparkles
Maehrer’s prose continues to be the perfect blend of accessible and elegant. Her dialogue crackles with wit, particularly in the banter between Evie and Trystan, while her descriptive passages paint vivid pictures without becoming overwrought. The way she balances humor with pathos is particularly impressive—readers will find themselves laughing one moment and reaching for tissues the next.
The pacing is expertly managed, with action sequences that feel genuinely thrilling and quiet character moments that provide necessary emotional breathing room. Maehrer knows when to let her characters be silly and when to demand serious emotional work from both her protagonists and her readers.
Themes That Resonate
Beneath the humor and romance, Accomplice to the Villain grapples with weighty themes about destiny versus choice, the nature of good and evil, and the power of love to transform. The exploration of how family legacy shapes identity, particularly through Evie’s relationship with her parents and Trystan’s revelation about Arthur, adds depth that elevates this beyond escapist fantasy.
The book also examines the cost of power and the way good intentions can lead to devastating consequences. Without becoming preachy, Maehrer explores how the people we love can hurt us most deeply, and how forgiveness—both of others and ourselves—becomes essential for healing.
Minor Criticisms in Paradise
While Accomplice to the Villain succeeds on almost every level, there are small areas where it could have been even stronger. Some of the political maneuvering in the middle section feels slightly rushed, as if Maehrer was eager to return to the character-driven elements that are clearly her strength. A few plot threads, particularly involving some of the magical creatures, could have used slightly more development.
Additionally, while the ending is emotionally satisfying, some readers might find certain revelations come a bit too quickly after slow burn development over three books. However, these are minor quibbles with what is otherwise a deeply satisfying conclusion.
Perfect Conclusion to an Exceptional Series
Accomplice to the Villain succeeds where many series finales fail by staying true to what made readers fall in love with these characters in the first place. Maehrer doesn’t try to reinvent her formula; instead, she perfects it, delivering a conclusion that feels both surprising and inevitable.
The emotional payoffs feel earned, the character development feels complete, and the romance feels deeply satisfying. Most importantly, the book captures that ineffable quality that has made this series special: the sense that love, laughter, and found family can triumph over any darkness.
For readers who have followed Evie and Trystan’s journey from the beginning, this conclusion will feel like coming home. For newcomers to the series, it serves as a compelling argument for why the Assistant to the Villain books have captured so many hearts.
Who Should Read This Book
Accomplice to the Villain will appeal to readers who love:
- Slow burn romance that finally reaches its boiling point
- Found family dynamics that feel authentic and earned
- Fantasy worlds that serve the story rather than overwhelming it
- Humor mixed with genuine emotion in perfect balance
- Characters who grow meaningfully throughout their journey
- Enemies-to-lovers dynamics with genuine emotional stakes
Similar Books to Add to Your TBR
If Accomplice to the Villain leaves you craving more fantasy romance with similar energy, consider:
- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (for complex character development)
- The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune (for found family and humor)
- The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab (for magical romance with consequences)
- Beach Read by Emily Henry (for witty banter and emotional depth)
- The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow (for lyrical fantasy)
Final Verdict
Accomplice to the Villain is that rare series finale that manages to stick the landing while delivering everything readers could want. Hannah Nicole Maehrer has created something special with this series—a fantasy romance that works on every level, from the swoon-worthy romance to the laugh-out-loud comedy to the genuinely moving emotional beats.
This isn’t just a book; it’s an experience that will leave readers alternately laughing, crying, and clutching their hearts. For fans of the series, it provides the perfect conclusion to Evie and Trystan’s story. For the broader fantasy romance genre, it sets a new standard for how to blend humor, heart, and magical mayhem into something truly extraordinary.
In a world that often feels too dark, Hannah Nicole Maehrer has given us a story that reminds us why love, laughter, and hope matter. Accomplice to the Villain is not just recommended reading—it’s essential reading for anyone who believes in the transformative power of love and the magic that happens when we choose to see the good in ourselves and others.
The Assistant to the Villain series stands as a testament to the power of storytelling to heal, to inspire, and to remind us that even villains deserve happy endings—especially when they’re not really villains at all.